Stewardship for Christian Families Attorney In Monterey, California

The principle of stewardship revolves around the belief that God is the only true owner of wealth. People that possess it during their lives are simply stewards of something that they do not actually own. This is a concept that can be in the forefront of your thinking when you are engaged in your estate planning efforts.



We can provide the assistance you need if you would like to put an estate plan in place as a Christian. At the core of the plan will be an asset transfer vehicle, and there are a number of different possibilities. A last will is a commonly utilized estate planning device, but there are limitations and drawbacks to take into consideration.

If you use a last will, you would name an executor or personal representative. This person would not be allowed to distribute assets directly to the beneficiaries. Under state laws, the probate court would be involved. This court would determine the validity of the will and provide supervision during the estate administration process.

Probate will typically take about nine months to a year, and the heirs to the estate cannot receive their inheritances during this interim. There are some considerable expenses that can accumulate during the process, and it is a public proceeding. Anyone that is interested can obtain probate records to pry into your final affairs.

A revocable living trust can be utilized to facilitate more efficient asset transfers outside of probate. Plus, there are some other advantages. With a will, you would be providing lump sum inheritances. Things are entirely different with a revocable living trust. You could instruct the trustee to distribute assets to the beneficiaries on an incremental basis over an extended period of time.

This is one alternative to a last will, but there are other types of trusts that can be utilized to satisfy more advanced estate planning objectives. Every situation is different, and we can work closely with you to devise the optimal plan given your situation if you choose to engage our firm.